The Edo State Government has ordered the immediate closure of three secondary schools in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area following discovery of a possible mass abduction by bandits.
The State Government announced the move in a June 9 statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the State’s Ministry of Education, Enodolimwanyi Otamere.
The move follows a leaked memo from the Department of State Services (DSS) of a possible mass abduction in the state. The intelligence report, directed at the state’s NSCDC Commander, alleged that two bandits were planning to kidnap school children.
Per the memo, the bandits were planning to kidnap school children as their previous attempted abduction of wealthy individuals did not yield the expected financial gains. They believed that the students’ abduction would attract government attention and increase the likelihood of huge ransoms.
Meanwhile, the statement revealed that authorities have already arrested one Emmanuel Momidu while surveilling Makeke Secondary School.
The school closure represents a proactive measure which is expected to prevent a similar incident like the Oyo Kidnapping in Edo.
